Kategorie: Climate Change

Over the past few weeks, webcams at Whakatāne and Te Kaha have continued to capture steam and gas plumes, with occasional traces of ash.

At times, the MetService has also detected small amounts of ash in the plume via satellite imagery. From the coast, this can sometimes appear as a hazy plume drifting downwind from the volcano.
Recent gas and observation flights have confirmed these coastal observations. Friday’s flight recorded minor changes in the active vent area, which has slightly expanded. Impact craters were also observed, indicating occasional explosive activity that has ejected ballistic blocks up to 600 meters from the vent onto the crater floor. The exact number and timing of these events remain unknown, but such activity is common at Whakaari as vents develop. The impacts of these eruptions have remained confined to the Main Crater floor.
Thermal infrared measurements show that vent temperatures have increased from 220 °C in January to 360 °C on Friday, though they remain well below the peak of over 580 °C recorded in August 2024. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions continue to be detected by satellite under favorable conditions. When northerly winds prevail, the presence of minor ash in the steam and gas plume, along with gases, may be noticeable along the coast as a sulfuric odor.
Steam, gas, and ash emissions remain variable, as they have for the past few months. This activity is consistent with moderate to heightened unrest, and as a result, the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2. Due to the continued ash emissions, the Aviation Colour Code remains at Orange. These levels reflect both the current activity and the uncertainty surrounding the state of unrest, as real-time monitoring data remains inconsistent.
The activity could escalate suddenly, with little or no warning. More explosive events may continue to affect the crater floor and areas near the island, but the Bay of Plenty coast remains unaffected by these short-term fluctuations.

Source: Geonet New Zealand volcano activity update 25 March 2025

Map of today’s active volcanoes

Etna (Sicily, Italy): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION AT 20250324/1018Z ACTIVITY WEAKENING OBS VA DTG:24/1800Z

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION LAST REPORTED AT 24/0219Z EST VA DTG:24/1510Z

Lewotolo (Lesser Sunda Islands): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 5000 ft (1500 m) altitude or flight level 050 .
The full report is as follows: VA TO FL050 MOV EAST EST VA DTG:24/0816Z to 5000 ft (1500 m)

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION LAST REPORTED AT 24/1723Z EST VA DTG:24/1830Z

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 6000 ft (1800 m) altitude or flight level 060 .
The full report is as follows: VA TO FL060 REPORTED AT 24/0812Z MOV EAST EST VA DTG:24/1310Z to 6000 ft (1800 m)

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA CLD HAS DSIPTD.

Santiaguito (Guatemala): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 13000 ft (4000 m) altitude or flight level 130 .
The full report is as follows: OCNL TO FRQT VA EMS. to 13000 ft (4000 m)

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 23000 ft (7000 m) altitude or flight level 230 .
The full report is as follows: VA EMS DTCTD to 23000 ft (7000 m)

Sangay (Ecuador): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 22000 ft (6700 m) altitude or flight level 220 .
The full report is as follows: VA EMS DTCTD to 22000 ft (6700 m)

Reventador (Ecuador): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: SML VA EMS

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Central Chile and Argentina): (23 Mar) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: NO VA DETECTED

Volcano Activity Summary for 24 Mar 2025: